Pages

"When they allow a talk show host to play them like a two-dollar banjo, they demonstrate what kind of backbone they'll bring to the job later on, if we elect them. After they get elected will they continue to allow Jeff Crank to put a nickel in them and wind them up every Saturday morning?"

Barry Noreen, former columnist, Colorado Springs Gazette

"There's a lot of talent there" - Shannon Fowler

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Budget Woes

- by The Lone Front Ranger

According to Tim Hoover, in the Denver Post:

On the heels of spending cuts Gov. Bill Ritter made in August, lawmakers learned Monday that the state is short another $240 million in the current budget year that started in July.

That could mean more cuts to state services in the current year, and it probably means that in the next budget year seniors will once again lose a property-tax break.

Lawmakers also are going to take a close look at a variety of tax breaks to companies and individuals that total nearly $2 billion.

"While the recession is forcing us to make some very difficult and painful decisions," Ritter said, "I want to be very clear: The budget will be balanced."

Ritter, a Democrat, said he expected his office to ready another round of cuts by mid-October, reductions he said would be "thoughtful, surgical and compassionate." Those are the words the governor used to describe the round of cuts he announced in August, for which he received much criticism.

The Governor doesn’t use the word tax increase, but let’s be clear that’s exactly what he is looking at:

·“Seniors will once again lose a property-tax break”.This is a tax increase.

·“Take a close look at a variety of tax breaks to companies and individuals that total nearly $2 billion”.This is a tax increase.

He also says, "Every cut we make will cause some pain. Every cut that we have to make will hurt." And who will they hurt, Governor Ritter?Have you looked at every avenue to increase revenue without raising taxes?

This is a year when the Governor has already raised taxes (yes, he called them fees, but families still feel this in their household budgets).And since past performance is the best predictor of future performance, how did the increased fees, and elimination of the Senior Homestead Exemption work for the State of Colorado?We are another $240 Million in debt.

Ronald Reagan’s Supply-Side policies of tax reduction led to the largest peacetime economic surge in American history. Instead of following new taxes and fees with more new taxes and fees, is it too much to ask Governor Ritter to look at the lessons of history, and return more of the taxpayer’s money to them?After all, they are the ones who earned it, and they are the only ones who can put it back into the economy.

This Governor has also put such restrictive new rules and regulations on the energy industry, that Severance Revenue to the State of Colorado are down 84%.Has he thought about getting out of the way of the energy industry so they can get back to business?Doesn’t that sound less painful?